Spoilers Sweeties! Official Description of Supernatural 9.22 "Stairway To Heaven"

TESSA THE REAPER RETURNS — After a massive attack on the angels, Castiel (Misha Collins) calls Sam (Jared Padalecki) and Dean (Jensen Ackles) for help. As they leave, Dean’s eagerness to bring the First Blade doesn’t go unnoticed by Sam who is worried about the cost to his brother whenever he uses the Blade. Meanwhile, Castiel is shocked when he learns the angel that caused the attack was one of his followers and did it in his name. Dean discovers there is a conspiracy amongst Castiel’s angel followers and at the heart of it is Tessa, the Reaper. Guy Bee directed the episode written by Andrew Dabb (#922).

Okay, so Tessa. Is this where we find out that Reapers and angels are one and the same thing? That the Reapers are a form of angel or something like that? Which....as much as I know there are going to be a lot of people crying retcon and other words that stick in my craw...makes a lot of sense to me. I've always been of the school, just because we haven't seen it or heard of it before, doesn't mean that it can't exist. I mean...how much stuff in this world is there that we don't know and how often do you think you know everything about something only to find out that there's more to it. I personally like that 9 years down the track we're still learning new things about the entities we're introduced to. And to me, seeing as the Reapers reap souls for Heaven or Hell, to have them having some kind of Divine connection makes a butt load of sense. It also puts into perspective how the Reapers in "Taxi Driver" and "I'm No Angel" got killed with an angel blade and died in an angelic burst of light. Hey, maybe the writers of the show know more stuff about this story than we do! I know, I'm being facetious, but by this late in the season, my patience is about at the level of Dean Winchesters!

So it sounds like Dean gets the Blade back in episode 21. I wonder if that means he does away with Abaddon in 21? Then the angel thing comes to a head in 22/23? Leaving us with what is bound to be a cliffhanger of painful proportions.

Say he has given Abaddon the chop, he'll be full to the brim with Cain fury! Even if she's not been done away with, Dean having his hands of the First Blade does not bode well for our oh-so-sexy-when-he's-burning-with-rage Winchester! GAH! (And... YESSSSS!)

Sam needs to say his words to Dean about how his bro is jonesing for blood when he's all Mark of Cain fired up. He's certainly noticing and he's most certainly worried...he keeps looking at Dean with those adorable, swirly frown lines of his...but he needs to say something and soon, because Sammy is the only one who can pull Dean back from the brink. And we all need/want him to do that! Mind you...at this stage (or any stage), would Dean listen? GAAAAHHHHHH!

Angels or not, I love the Reapers, in all their forms, they're probably my favourite supernatural beings and I really adore the Tessa character. I'll be happy to see her. I hope they don't kill her, but if she's gone rogue... I hope not, because she's been cool in the past and I've always enjoyed her popping up here and there. Oh boo, I just made myself sad. Like, Meg level sad. Well...maybe not Meg level...but sad.

Directed by Guy Bee and written by Andrew Dabb. What a great duo! Guy's a lovely director and I particularly like his action scenes and Andrew Dabb has become one of my favourite writers on the show, he did "Devil May Care" and "Road Trip" this season...as well as the yet to be seen Bloodlines pilot.

So the next synopsis we get will be for the FINALE! I literally have zero idea where this is going (except probably somewhere painful). I'm so excited for the last 3 episodes of this season! Sooooo excited!

Bring it on!

Oh and...I hope they forked out the cash to get the Zeppelin song for this ep!

I'm afraid I'm not up on my bible and SPN doesn't necessarily follow the bible to the letter which how it relates back biblical mythology. But I don't think it's been referenced verbally on the show but the last two reaper encounters would definitely indicate they are one and the same. Which totally makes sense.

I loved how quick Dean dropped that knife. No thought. Just dumped it straight away. I loved that. I think Sam will always be able to reach Dean.

They actually DID use the words "Angel of Death" with regards to the Reapers. First, in "Faith", Sam asked:"SAM: You really think it's THE Grim Reaper? Like, angel of death, collect your soul, the whole deal?DEAN: No no no, not THE reaper, A reaper. There's reaper law in pretty much every culture on earth, it goes by 100 different names, it's possible that there's more than one of them."

which gives us multiple Reapers. But then in "Abandon All Hope" when Dean and Ellen tell Bobby about all the Reapers in town, Bobby says Death is coming and then goes on to clarify:"Bobby: This is the Angel of Death, Big Daddy Reaper. " and that all the other Reapers work for him.

So, I think we have at least some evidenced that the Reapers are a form of Angel that report to Death. And we know Death is something special as he claims he'll reap God eventually.

Finally, as sort of proof that they are a form of Angels, in the Supernatural Universe, it is the Reapers who apparently transport the dead to their final destination. The decision of whether or not you go to Heaven or Hell seems to be a God or Heaven call. In S5 Joshua says God granted the Winchesters Salvation even after all they had done. And in S6 Castiel complains to Rapheal about letting Ken Lay into Heaven. Further, it kind of makes no sense that Hell decides who comes to Hell. Hell wants EVERYONE. And Hell is punishment. So, with that basic premise, it would seem that the Reapers, who work for Death, ultimately carry out the decisions of God/Heaven. As an "agent" of Heaven, calling them a form of Angel makes sense IMO.

BTW: Supernatural seems to draw a great deal of it's lore from The Book of Enoch. This is a Jewish religious text that is not part of the Jewish Bible nor the Christian Bible but there are some references that do match up. It's used in some religious sects and I suspect had an influence on the recent movie Noah. It's full of names you'll recognize from Supernatural's episodes.

I'm tipping they will use the Zeppelin song... I heard something at VanCon... nothing specific, but just a comment (or hesitation) around the topic of affording this song. And, the time I thought, one day they'll use it, so it's just a feeling I have :)

Really looking forward to the final three episodes too. I hope we survive the ride ;)

I've wondered what all the fuss in the past was when reapers were revealed to be angels. I just figured that they are a different type of angel like Cupids are. Nevertheless, I too anticipate an outcry about it. I just hope Tessa has not gone bad and is not killed. I love her character.I hope the angel storyline is resolved this season and the demon one carries over into Season 10. Despite the worry I feel for Dean and MoC, I really wouldn't mind seeing more...

I have read many reviews and also yours and checked your photos and tweets. Haven't dared to tweet because I don't even know how it works. But oh well... Mostly I am anxious to see the whole season. Have enjoyed every episode and character there is. The last 3 episodes scare the living daylights out of me but still I can't wait to see them.

How things have been with the brothers my thoughts have been very grim and death and destruction I mostly see where everything is going. Dean, Sam, Cass dying by Dean or by other. Dean turning to demon/knight of hell/loosing soul. That he leaves Sam. Castiel dying. (His contact still hasn't been renewed I think) So nothing what I think is positive and I feel I might need therapy soon. :D

I am also now usually commenting at the WFB and there I told about an alternate Supernatural happy place by Lilah Kane. On that the brothers are working like a "good" team again. Having fun and making jokes but also their fighting against monsters would be like dance and calculated. The other finishes the others fight and such. And they would be very deadly. Cass would be the searcher of ancient texts and living with the boys in the bunker. The brothers would call him for help or just call to him with phone. Also Gadreel would be sometimes popping there and annoying Sam as his Angel like Cass is to Dean.

I love the actor and the character Gadreel and don't really want him offed. :P

Anyhow, the men/women of letters would be back in business. I liked Kevin be there and the brothers would have found/gathered 2 more there so they wouldn't be too lonely.

In other words all would be ALIVE and WELL and living happily ever after.

That is way better thoughts that I actually have at the moment... Girl can't stop hoping can she?

Hi Lilah, I'm pretty confident you don't have to worry about Sam, Dean or Cas dying, at least not permanently, seeing as Jensen and Jared are the leads in the show, and it has been announced that Misha will be back as a season regular. How the story goes, who knows! That's part of the excitement, right?

I'm really not sure that Gadreel and Sam will ever be friends...he did kill Kevin after all, let's not forget that, like ever!

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